Deep water well drilling system



June 19, 1956 r. M. Kuss ET AL 2,750,750

DEEP WATER WELL DRILLING SYSTEM Filed Oct. 18. 1948 4 Sheets-Sheet 1ATRDRNEYS June 19, 1956 T. M. Kuss ET AL DEEP WATER WELL DRILLING SYSTEM4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed 001;. 18. 1948 ll l I l l ll IN VEN TORS THEODOREM. KUS S RAL-PH D. RUSSELL BY WA ma ATT-O RN EY June 19, 1956 FiledOCT..

T. M. Kuss ET A1,

DEEP WATER WELL DRILLING SYSTEM 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 IN V EN TORS THEODOREM. KUSS BY RALPH D. RUEL-L.

z,mymz7 ATTORNE Y June 19, 1956 r. M. Kuss ETAL DEEP WATER WELL DRILLINGSYSTEM 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Oct. 18. 1948 M, M? M ATroRNEYs NTI DEEPWATER WELL DRILLING SYSTEM Theodore M. Kuss, San Francisco, and Ralph D.Russell, Oakland, Calif.

This invention relates to a structure which may be employed to removeoil from the soil under the ocean bed.

Heretofore oil has been recovered for the most part by drilling throughthe surface of the earth. Successful attempts have been made to drillfor oil in the tidelands at depths of about 50 or 60 feet and althoughit has been definitely established that rich oil deposits exist in theocean bed many miles olf the shores of the United States, no method normeans has been devised for successfully obtaining oil at ocean depths of500 or 600 feet.

The present methods of drilling for oil from the platforms erected onpiles cannot be employed when depths of lve or six hundred feet areencountered because of the inherent disadvantages in the structuresemployed. For example the derricks employed must be made as high aspossible to accommodate efficient lengths of drill shaft sections. Theweight of such structures makes any method requiring the use of pilesunsatisfactory because of the inherent weakness of long slender columns.

Another disadvantage of prior drilling installations has been the lackof facilities available for eifectively storing the crude oil after ithas been brought to the surface. The method now employed where wells areat shallow depths of immediately filling barges or tankers with thecrude oil has the obvious disadvantage that the rate of pumping iscontrolled by the availability of barges. The present method of usingpiles at shallow depths is also inefficient and uneconomical since asubstantial portion of the structure must be left in position if thelocation proves to be economically unsatisfactory.

One of the objects of this invention is the provision of an economicallybuilt structure for oil drilling at sea at greater depths thanheretofore which has the inherent strength required to support a workingplatform, a plurality of derricks and other necessary well drillingequipment.

Another object of this invention is the provision of a structure for oildrilling at `sea which permits the use of shorter derricks than haveheretofore been used or which will permit the use of conventionalderricks with longer drill shaft sections.

Still another object of this invention is the provision of a structurehaving means for storing large quantities of crue oil within thestructure itself, thereby minimizing the total weight of the structure.

And yet another object of this invention is the provision of a structurewhich may be completely fabricated on land and which may be easilyassembled at the location at which the drilling operation is to beperformed.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of a structurewhich may be readily moved from .one location to another to suiteconomically satisfactory oil recovery.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a structure whichmay be employed to drill for oil through nited States Fatent CII t iC

Water having a depth greater than heretofore penetrated for suchpurposes.

Still another object of the invention is an improved method of drillingfor oil at sea or offshore.

Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of one caisson in a horizontalfloating position adapted to be towed to the drilling location.

Fig. 2 is a side elevational View of one caisson after it has beenrotated to a vertical position.

Fig. 3 is a side elevational view of two caissons in a vertical positionbefore they are secured together.

Fig. 4 is a side elevational view of the completed structure showing thetwo caissons secured together with a platform and derricks erected onthe caissons.

Fig. 5 is a side elevational View of the completed structure in a raisedposition for towing the same.

Fig. 6 is a plan view of the structure showing the platform and oil willdrilling derricks.

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary sectional elevational view of the caissons withconnecting means therebetween.

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary sectional plan View of the caissons andconnecting means shown in Fig. 7.

Fig. 9 is an enlarged vertical sectional view of the caissons only takenat the juncture between tubular portions thereof showing the means forconnecting the same.

Fig. 10 is a side elevational view partially in section of a portion ofone of the caissons.

Fig. ll is a horizontal sectional view of the caissons showing the meansfor connecting the same.

Fig. l2 is an enlarged vertical sectional view through one of thecaisson units showing internal structure with associated conduits showndiagrammatically.

Fig. i3 is a fragmentary sectional plan view of a portion of a caissonas taken along line 13-13 of Fig. 12.

Fig. 14 is a fragmentary sectional plan view of a portion of a caissonas taken along line 14-14 of Fig. l2.

The invention comprises in part a pair of caissons 1, 2 which may bebuilt of reinforced concrete or the like and constructed on a ship waysor drydock. Said caissons are formed from a plurality of generallycylindrical columns 7 which are integrally secured together at theiradjacent walls 3. These columns 7 are hollow except for watertightfloors 4, 5, 6 which are positioned transversely within each column forpurposes to be later described in detail. These oors may also beintegral parts of the caissons.

By virtue of the watertight cells between floors 4, 5, 6 the caissonsmay be iloated horizontally on water as shown in Fig. l when these cellsare filled with air. When the caissons have been towed to the locationat which the drilling operation is to be performed each caisson may berotated to a vertical position by flooding one of the cells in eachcolumn in a manner to be described. The two vertically disposed floatingcaissons may then be rigidily but releasably connected together withoutthe use of divers by the means shown in Figs. 3 and 9.

As best seen in Figs. 9 and 11 a plurality of compression beams 10 maybe rigidly or swingably connected to one caisson 2 and are adapted tospace the caissons apart in the completed structure. Members 8 may beconnected at right angles to said beams to act as spacers and diagonalbracing may be employed if required. These beams 19 are preferablypositioned in two horizontal rows so that the lower row is positionedadjacent and above the bed of the ocean and the upper row is under thesurface of the ocean when theA structure is in operating position. Asbest seen in Fig. 11 one beam 10 of each row is preferably positionedbetween each column 7 and one beam is positioned at each longitudinalside of the caisson.

I The beams 10 may be rigidly secured to one caisson 2 but arepreferably hinged as shown in Figs. 7 and 8 so 9 to increase resistanceto bearing stresses. To secure each beam 10 in a horizontal positionrope 13 is employed which may be connected to beam 10 by means ofshackle V14 and apertured plate 15 and which may be secured to caisson 2at a point spaced upwardly from said beam by means of plate 16 (Fig. 9).

As best seen in Fig. 9 the two caissons are effectively secured togetherby means of diagonal ropes 17 which are secured to the caissons 1, 2above the lower row of beams 10 by plates 13 and are secured below theupper row of beams 10 by plates 19. Adjustable falls 20 are positionedadjacent the upper end of ropes 17 so that .the desired mechanicaladvantage may be secured to create the necessary tension in ropes 17.Said falls are actuated by ropes 21-Which are secured to a power meansat the upper end of caissons 1, 2 which will later be described indetail.

Thus is it apparent that the two caissons may be floated to the desiredlocation as separate units and connected together without the servicesof a diver. It should be noted in this connection that the presentinvention is particularly adapted to be used at depths in excess of 500feet which depths are beyond the limit reached by divers in the past. Itis, of course, understood that necessary connections such as theconnection of rope 17 with plate 18 are performed while the caissons arestill aoat so that no underwater work need be done to assemble thestructure.

As hereinbefore explained the beams 10 are preferably hinged to caisson2 and for this purpose hinge pad 24 is provided on caisson 2 and saidhinge pad 24 is connected to beam 10 by means of pin 25. For the purposeof swinging these beams into a horizontal position ropes 22 are employedand are angularly connected to beams 10 by means of plates in a similarmanner as ropes 13. Sheaves 25 secured to caisson 2 are employed todirect the lower ropes 22 upwardly along column 7 to a source of powerto be later described in detail.

Main hauling line 26 extending transversely of the space between thecaissons may be connected to caisson 2 by means of plate 27 and saidhauling line 26 may be redirected upwardly by sheave 2S so that tensionmay be imparted to said line from the top of caisson 1.

The construction of each caisson will now be described in detail byconsidering only one of the columns which are connected together to formone caisson. it being understood that all columns 7 are substantiallysimilar except for certain minor differences which will be explained.Between oor 6 and the top of each column is a non-watertight cell 30open at its upper end. Between floors 6 and 5 is a watertight cell 31and between floors 5 and 4 is a watertight cell 32. Non-watertight cell33 is positioned between door 4 and the lower end of the caisson and isopen at its lower end. Positioned within `cells 30, 31, 32 arerelatively small watertight compartments 34, 35, 36 respectively whichcompartments contain certain machinery which will later be described indetail.

Air supply conduit 37 communicates between cell 30 and cell 32 and hasat its lower end a water check valve 38 of the conventional type whichpermits passage of air upwardly past the valve but excludes water fromconduit 37.

Valve 39 is positioned in conduit 37 and is adapted to be opened andclosed by a reversing motor 4t) which in turn may be controlled from thetop of the caisson. Connected to conduit 37 and adapted to by-pass airbetween cells 31 and 32 is conduit 41. Said conduit may be opened andclosed by valve 42 actuated by a reversing motor 43 controllable fromthe top of the caisson. Valves 39 and 42, including motors 4t), 43, andtheir associated mechanisms are positioned Within watertight compartment3S.

Communicating between cells 30 and 31 is air by-pass conduit 44 havingat its lower end that is in cell 31 a water check valve 45 similar instructure and function to check valve 38. Conduits 44 and 37 areinterconnected within watertight compartment 34 by valve 46 which valveis actuated by a reversing motor 47 controllable from the caisson top.The by-pass conduit 44 may be opened and closed by valve 48 and motor49. This arrangement of conduits and valves provides a means forinterconnecting cells 30, 31 and 32 for the passage of air therebetweenand also for supplying air to the said cells from a source of air abovethe surface of the Water. The water check valves 38 and 45 provide ameans for preventing water from entering the air conduits.

As best seen in Figs. 12 and 13 a pump 5S is positioned Withincompartment 35 for the purpose of pumping water out of cell 31. Suctionconduit S6 communicates between pump 55 and sump 57 which sump ispositioned in floor 5. Discharge `conduit 58 communicates between pump55 and the exterior of column 7. Conduit 59 communicates between conduit58 and cell 31 so that when said conduit is Vopened water is permittedto flood cell 31. Valves 60 and 61 are adapted to open and closeconduits 58 and 59 respectively. Pump 55 and valves 6i) and 61 areactuated by motors 62, 63, 64 respectively which in turn are operablefrom the top of the caisson.

Pump 70 is positioned in `compartment 36 and functions in an identicalmanner to pump 55. Since pump 70 and its associated mechanism isidentical to pump 55 a detailed description of said pump is omitted.

Thus it is seen that means is provided for permitting water to entercells 31 and 32 and also for permitting any water in said cells to bepumped out.

Positioned within cell 3i) are hoisting drums 71 driven by motor 72 andadapted to actuate ropes 21, 22 for the purposes hereinbefore described.This apparatus need not be installed until the caisson is upended.Sheaves 73, 74 are positioned on top of caisson 2 so that the directionof ropes 21, 22 may be appropriately changed. Valve 75 adapted to beactuated by shaft 76 from the top of the caisson is positioned adjacentfloor 6 for draining cell 30 while the caisson is being brought to avertical position.

The operation required to position the structure on the ocean bed isbest seen 'by reference to Figs. l through 5 and Fig. l2.

When the caisson 2 arrives at the desired location, valve 61 incompartment 36 is opened permitting water to enter cell 32 thus causingthe caisson to rotate to the position shown in Fig. 2. While in thisposition the submergence of the caisson may be controlled by ooding cell31 in a similar manner if required. Caisson 1 is rotated and submergedin a like manner, ropes 17 having been previously connected to pad 18 ashereinbefore described. Beams 10 may then be swung into a horizontalposition and the caissons drawn together by means of hauling lines 26and ropes 17. In this connection itis important to note` that thecontrol of submergence of the caissons permitted by the use of pumps 55and 7i) may be employed effectively to align the beams 10 with thedepressions 12 on caisson 1. Thus if the registration of the free endsof beams 10 is accomplished with respect to the upper beams when thecaissons are vertical and the upper beams are above the surface of thewater it is obvious that a similar registration of lower beams 10 withthe lower depressions 12 is insured (Fig. 3).

After Vthe two caissons are effectively secured together by beams 10 andropes 17, cells 31 and 32 may be completely flooded causing the caissonsto be securely imbedded in the ocean bottom (Fig. 4). It should be notedthat the soil on which the caissons rest may be preloaded by completelylling cells 32 and 31 causing the caissons to sink into the ocean bed.Pressure on the said soil may then be relaxed by pumping water out ofcell 31 to obtain a suitable bearing pressure commensurate with the typeof soil encountered.

It is well known that different types of soil have different allowablebearing pressures and to prevent settling of an object resting on thesoil the bearing pressure should not approach that pressure which willcause the object to penetrate into the soil. The process of preloadingthe soil as herein explained is essential to avoid excessive settling ofthe structure after the oil drilling operation has been commenced.

It should also be noted in this connection that unlevelness in the oceanbed may be overcome by flooding one caisson more than the other and byunequally flooding the columns of one caisson.

After the caissons are securely positioned on the ocean bottom,construction of the platform and oil well derricks 81 as shown in Figs.4, 5 may be commenced. Girders 82 may be secured to caissons 1, 2 andplatform 80 constructed thereon. A plurality of oil derricks 81 areshown on Fig. 6 but it will be readily apparent that other appropriatestructures required for the oil drilling operation may be positioned onsaid platform.

For the purpose of permitting the drill shafts to reach the soil on theocean bed, watertight pipes 83 are provided between cells 30 and cells33 running through cells 31 and 32. Such pipes are of sufficientdiameter so that operators may descend an appropriate distance throughthe same for servicing the drill shafts. To permit the operators to thuswork below the surface of the ocean a transverse platform 84 ispositioned in said pipe at any desired position. Said platform isprovided with a hole 85 through which the drill shafts may be droppedand through which water or mud entrapped in the bottom of the caissonmay be removed therefrom.

To provide storage for any oil which may not be readily removable bybarges or tankers, pipes 86 (Fig. l2) are employed to direct such oilinto cell 31 or to remove oil from said cell. It is understood of coursethat the oil in cell 31 will lie above any water which is in said cellbecause the oil has a lesser density than the water.

Pump 55 may be employed to pump water in or out of cell 31 dependingupon the amount of oil to be stored.

It is to be clearly understood that many variations in design orarrangement of parts may be made without departing from the presentinvention. For example pump compartments 35, 36 need not be provided ineach column. Only one column need contain such pump compartments, andholes 87 may be made in walls 3 adjacent the top and bottom of such cellso that all cells in one caisson may be flooded together or emptiedtogether. Preferably the pump compartments should be positioned so as toserve two or three so that the effect of flooding may be balanced.

The use of the words sea or ocean in the claims and description are notnecessarily words of limitation but are intended to refer to bodies ofwater of fairly great depth, such as up to 500 feet and even greater,where the present system is suitable.

We claim:

l. An offshore drilling and pumping system comprising a pair ofelongated caissons respectively adapted to be floated horizontally tothe desired site for up-ending onto the bed of the sea, each of saidcaissons being formed with hollow cells adjacent opposite ends and meansfor selectively admitting and expelling air and water to said cells forcausing movement of said caissons from horizontal position to up-endedposition in water and vice-versa and for increasing and decreasing thebuoyancy of said caissons when in vertical up-ended position as desired,means connected with said caissons respectively for securing themrigidly together when in up-ended position in water', said meansincluding a connector adjacent the' lower ends of said caissons when thelatter are in said vertical position, means securing said connector toone of said caissons for movement to and from a position extendingbetween the said lower ends of said caissons spacing them apart, andmeans connected with said connector extending upwardly to a pointadjacent their upper ends for manipulation at said point for causingsaid movement.

2. An offshore drilling and pumping system comprising a pair ofelongated caissons respectively adapted to be floated horizontally tothe desired site for up-ending onto the bed of the sea, each of saidcaissons being formed with hollow cells adjacent opposite ends and meansfor selectively admitting and expelling air and water to said cells forcausing movement of said caissons from horizontal position to up-endedposition in water and vice-versa and for increasing and decreasing thebuoyancy of said caissons when in vertical up-ended position as desired,means connected with said caissons respectively for securing themrigidly together when in up-ended position in water, said meansincluding horizontal beams hingedly secured at one of their ends to onecaisson of said pair for swinging from positions alongside said onecaisson to horizontally extending positions engaging the other caissonat their outer ends, movable means extending between said caissons andconnected with the latter accessible for manipulation at the upper endsof said caissons for moving said caissons toward each other when saidbeams are in horizontally extending position for tight engagement ofsaid other caisson with said outer ends of said beams.

3. An offshore drilling and pumping system comprising a pair ofelongated caissons respectively adapted to be floated horizontally tothe desired site for 11p-ending onto the bed of the sea, each of saidcaissons being formed with hollow cells adjacent opposite ends and meansfor selectively admitting and expelling air and water to said cells forcausing movement of said caissons from horizontal position to up-endedposition in water and vice-versa and for increasing and decreasing thebuoyancy of said caissons when in vertical up-ended position as desired,means connected with said caissons respectively for securing themrigidly together when in up-ended position in water, said meansincluding horizontal beams hingedly secured at one of their ends to onecaisson of said pair for swinging from positions alongside said onecaisson to horizontally extending positions engaging the other caissonat their outer ends, movable means extending between said caissons andconnected with the latter accessible for manipulation at the upper endsof said caissons for moving said caissons toward each other when saidbeams are in horizontally extending position for tight engagement ofsaid other caisson with said outer ends of said beams, said othercaisson being formed with recesses for receiving the said outer ends ofsaid beams.

4. An offshore drilling and pumping system comprising a pair ofelongated caissons respectively formed of a plurality of integrallyunited parallel hollow cylinders in side by side relationship extendinglongitudinally of each caisson, partitions within said cylindersextending transversely thereacross dividing each of said cylinders intocells with one of said cells being adjacent each of the opposite ends ofsaid cylinders, pump means on each caisson for admitting water into andexpelling water from the corresponding cells at one of the ends of saidcylinders to effect up-ending of said caissons in water from horizontalfloating positions to vertical positions, means for rigidly securingsaid caissons together in spaced relation when said caissons are in saidvertical up-ended position, and separate means accessible from the upperends of said caissons when the latter are so secured together fordisconnecting said caissons and for actuating said pump means forexpelling the water from the lowermost cells as desired to increase thebuoyancy of said caissons.

(References 0n following page) References Cited inthe file of thispatent UNITED STATES PATENTS Griesser Aug. 21, 1923 Bradshaw May 3, 19325 Griesbach Aug. 9, 1932 Plummer Sept. 5, 1939 8 Kirby lune 10, 1947Travers June 14, 1949 Hackett July 2, 1949 Manes May 15, 1951 FOREIGNPATENTS France 1935

1. AN OFFSHORE DRILLING AND PUMPING SYSTEM COMPRISING A PAIR OFELONGATED CAISSONS RESPECTIVELY ADAPTED TO BE FLOATED HORIZONTALLY TOTHE DESIRED SITE FOR UP-ENDING ONTO THE BED OF THE SEA, EACH OF SAIDCAISSONS BEING FORMED WITH HOLLOW CELLS ADJACENT OPPOSITE ENDS AND MEANSFOR SELECTIVELY ADMITTING AND EXPELLING AIR AND WATER TO SAID CELLS FORCAUSING MOVEMENT OF SAID CAISSONS FROM HORIZONTAL POSITION TO UP-ENDEDPOSITION IN WATER AND VICE-VERSA AND FOR INCREASING AND DECREASING THEBUOYANCY OF SAID CAISSONS WHEN IN VERTICAL UP-ENDED POSITION AS DESIRED,MEANS CONNECTED WITH SAID CAISSONS RESPECTIVELY FOR SECURING THEMRIGIDLY TOGETHER WHEN IN UP-ENDED POSITION IN WATER, SAID MEANSINCLUDING A CONNECTOR ADJACENT THE